The B.S. in Sustainability Sciences (SUS) Department of Earth, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences

Why Sustainability Science? The grand challenge of sustainability science lies in finding ways to elevate the standard of living for all humans above a social foundation that protects against human deprivation, while at the same time lowering environmental impact below critical natu- ral thresholds. Our SUS curriculum addresses this challenge and associated issues, training students to solve the most press- ing complex problems we face as a global society. Our program provides students with a marketable skillset and a problem- based, solution-driven way of thinking, grounded in systems perspectives. The Sustainability Science major focuses on the critical linkages between environmental, human, and social systems. Classes focus on real world sustainability challenges, such as: food security, energy production, climate change, population growth, production and consumption, economic growth, human security and health, and access to clean water. Our curriculum em- phasizes complex systems analysis through project-based learning that integrates theoretical and methodological training in real-world settings to understand sustainability related problems and assessing potential solutions at local and regional scales.

Major Requirements

To fulfill major requirements, students must complete: Students will work closely with their advisor to develop an individualized pathway that includes coursework; co- • EES-112 Environmental Science curricular activities; study away, internships, and research; • SUS-120 Principles of Sustainability Science and professional experiences. • SUS-241 Social Systems Major electives offered by the EES Department include: • SUS-242 Dynamic System Modeling • EES-201 Geographic Information Systems • SUS-472 Research and Analysis OR SUS-473 Sustainabil- • EES-230 Watershed Hydrology ity Science Practicum • EES-301 Remote Sensing of the Environment • SUS-474 Senior Capstone • EES-343 Environmental Systems • 6 additional elective courses numbered 200 or above, at • SUS-210 Urban Sustainability least 3 with SUS prefix and at least 1 with EES prefix. • SUS-320 Consumption and Culture • SUS-325 Conservation and Communities In addition, all students pursuing Bachelor of Science (B.S.) • SUS-330 Ecological Economics degree are required to fulfill the Mathematical and Formal • SUS-335 Sustainability and Social Justice Reasoning (MR) general education requirement by taking: • SUS-345 Resilience and Adaptation • MTH-120 Introduction to Statistics AND MTH-145 Calcu- • SUS-370 Sustainability Solutions Workshop lus for Management, Life and Social Sciences OR • SUS-410 Sustainable Futures • MTH-150 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I • EES-410 Ocean and Climate Systems

Sustainability Science and The Furman Advantage

100 % of majors participate in undergraduate research project

47 % of majors have studied away Furman’s location at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and proximity to the City of Greenville provide easy ac- cess to a geologically, ecologically, and socially diverse region, with ample opportunity for getting students out into the field and community. Department offers and supports two engaged living programs – the first year Environmental Community of Students (ECOS) Engaged Living Program and the second year Greenbelt Community that are intend- ed to foster and develop student passion for sustainability and beyond through an intentional coupled residential / academic experience. We have a strong tie with the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman that offers an array of student fellowship experiences.